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Jake Delhomme Agrees to Deal with Cleveland Browns

Jimmy Boyd — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:55:54 +0000

Yahoo! Sports reports that former Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme has agreed to a two-year deal with the Cleveland Browns.

Delhomme was released by the Panthers last week despite the team still owing him more than $12 million.

The quarterback position has been a major problem for Cleveland ever since the franchise returned as an expansion team 11 years ago, but is Delhomme the answer?

I guess it depends on what Delhomme the Browns get. If they get the guy with wavering confidence that has been an interception magnet, I’d have to say no.

If they get the guy that took the Panthers to the Super Bowl, I’d definitely have to say yes.

The reality is that the Browns will probably get a player somewhere in the middle. Will that player be better than Brady Quinn or Seneca Wallace or others? Probably, at this point. I just can’t see Delhomme having nearly as bad of a season as he did last year. One would think he would work his butt off in the offseason to make sure of it.

Delhomme is coming off a season in which he threw 18 interceptions, easily his worst as a pro.

Ben Watson Signs with Cleveland Browns

Jimmy Boyd — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:17:43 +0000

The Cleveland Browns look like they could end up as the big mover and shaker this offseason. ESPN reports that the Browns and free-agent tight end Ben Watson have agreed to an offer.

The Browns signed Watson to a three-year deal worth $12 million in hopes that he can improve their passing game.

Watson spent the last six years in New England with the Patriots where he worked with Browns coach Eric Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Perhaps that familiarity is what made him choose the Browns over the Seahawks.

“We viewed Ben as one of the top all-around tight ends in the free-agent market,” Browns general manager Tom Heckert said.

“Because of his athleticism and intelligence, he has proven valuable as both a receiver and blocker during his career, and has performed well in both facets. He comes from a winning program in New England and possesses the traits that we like in a player. We feel as though he can help us in many different areas and we are excited about his addition to our team.”

Watson caught 29 passes for 404 yards and five scores last season with New England.

LaDainian Tomlinson Meets with the Jets

Jimmy Boyd — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:07:34 +0000

According to Yahoo! Sports, LaDainian Tomlinson is meeting with the New York Jets in hopes of coming away with a deal.

Tomlinson visited with the Minnesota Vikings Thursday and left without reaching any sort of deal. The Vikings are in search of help after losing Chester Taylor to the Bears. Likewise, the Jets are looking to add a running back after cutting ties with Thomas Jones, who has since signed with the Chiefs.

The Jets boasted the No. 1 ranked rushing offense in the NFL last season, and they are confident they can top the charts again thanks to the emergence of talented young runner Shonn Greene. If Tomlinson were to sign on with the Jets, he would be Greene’s backup.

Tomlinson will turn 31 years old this summer and is coming off the worst statistical season of his career. Still, he believes he has some good years left in him. Tomlinson currently ranks eighth all-time on the NFL’s rushing yards list with 12,490 yards.

Because of his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, Tomlinson could make a good third down back for just about any team.

Tim Tebow Scores Low on Wonderlic Test

Jimmy Boyd — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:30:47 +0000

According to the Palm Beach Post, Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow scored 22 out of 50 on the Wonderlic test.

The Wonderlic is a 12-minute test used to measure an individual’s learning and problem-solving abilities.

The average Wonderlic score for an NFL quarterback is 24. It is also worth noting that Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, Texas’ Colt McCoy and Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen all scored higher than Tebow. Bradford wowed with a score of 36 while McCoy and Clausen posted scores of 25 and 23 respectively.

So what does Tebow’s below-average score mean in terms of his draft position? In his case, it doesn’t help him, but it also likely doesn’t hurt him. I mean he did graduate with a 3.66 GPA from college.

I’ve never been big on this test and here’s why. Quarterbacks such as Alex Smith and Matt Leinart had Wonderlic scores of 40 and 35 respectively and neither has established himself as an NFL star. Meanwhile, Hall of Famers Dan Marino and Jim Kelly both only had scores of 15. Likely future Hall of Famer Donovan McNabb only scored a 14.

I think it is also worth noting that the great Brett Favre had the same score as Tebow.

Cincinnati Bengals Add Antonio Bryant

Jimmy Boyd — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:33:11 +0000

ESPN reports that the Cincinnati Bengals and wide receiver Antonio Bryant have agreed to a four-year deal worth $28 million. With incentives, he could earn as much as $29 million.

With Bryant now on board, it likely ends any speculation that the Bengals were going to pick up Terrell Owens, and that’s going to break the heart of Chad Ochocinco. Ochocinco has been campaigning for his team to sign Owens since the end of last season.

I can’t blame Cincy for this decision. One high-maintenance diva wide receiver is probably enough.

Bryant only finished with 39 catches for 600 yards and four scores last season while being bothered by pain in his knee. But the Bengals are hopeful that he can return to his 2008 form when he caught 83 passes for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Bengals boasted one of the best passing attacks in football just a few years back, but the team was forced to rely heavily on the run last season as the passing game struggled.

The Bengals still went 10-6 and won the AFC North, and they are hoping the addition of Bryant can help them improve offensively in 2010.

Cleveland Browns May Trade Brady Quinn

Jimmy Boyd — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:20:13 +0000

Yesterday, the Cleveland Browns released quarterback Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn may be next on the chopping block. ESPN reports that the Browns will host former Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme on Thursday, indicating that the team would like to go in a different direction.

According to league sources, the Browns are looking into trading Quinn. They are also looking to acquire another quarterback through trade, free agency or the draft.

The Browns have already added former Seattle Seahawks backup Seneca Wallace, a player that Mike Holgren is very familiar with from his days in Seattle.

If another quarterback is added, it appears Quinn will be the first to go. It’s certainly been a tough start in the NFL for the former first-round draft pick out of Notre Dame.

While Quinn has struggled, in his defense, it’s not like the Browns have many weapons for him to work with.

It does figure to help the offense if the Browns could bring in someone with more experience, but is Delhomme that guy? He just hasn’t been the same following Tommy John surgery. He’s had a much easier time throwing interceptions than touchdown passes recently. But maybe getting cut in Carolina is the wake up call Delhomme needed. Maybe now he’ll quit thinking and start gunslinging again. He could be doing it in Cleveland in 2010.

Cleveland Browns Release Derek Anderson

Jimmy Boyd — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:09:24 +0000

Remember last season when the Cleveland Browns had a quarterback controversy all season long between Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn. Well, it appears Quinn finally won the battle.

ESPN reports that the Browns have released former Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Anderson. Team president Mike Holmgren previously said it would be a “long shot” that both Anderson and Quinn would be on the roster this season and he stayed true to his word.

While I do think Quinn has the better upside, cutting Anderson loose likely had more to do with dollars and cents. Anderson’s contract would have required a $2 million roster bonus this month and a $7.45 million salary in 2010.

Anderson did have one memorable season with the Browns in 2007. He threw for 3,787 yards and 29 scores while leading the team to 10 wins and earning a spot on the AFC Pro Bowl team.

The Browns did pick up Seattle Seahawks backup quarterback Seneca Wallace in a trade this week, but it appears that they aren’t ready to settle on Wallace or Quinn as the starter.

One thing we could see more of in Cleveland this season is the wildcat formation. With Josh Cribbs as the wildcat back, the Browns were able to move the football down the stretch, winning their last four games as a result. Wallace is an athletic quarterback that could also play the wildcat back position.

This team started to make strides defensively last season, now it needs the offense to catch up.

Jacksonville Jaguars Sign Aaron Kampman

Jimmy Boyd — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:07:22 +0000

Yahoo! Sports reports that the Jacksonville Jaguars have signed free agent defensive end Aaron Kampman to an undisclosed contract.

Aaron Kampman has been one of the NFL’s best pass rushers in recent years. He has 54 career sacks and his 40.5 sacks from 2006 to 2009 are tied for fifth in the league during that time frame. However, the Pro Bowl defensive end struggled in Green Bay last season when he was moved to outside linebacker in their new 3-4 defensive scheme. Those struggles got the talks started that he might not be suited for the new system in place, and then a season-ending injury didn’t help his cause for remaining a Packer either.

The problems the Jaguars have had getting consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks are well documented. The Jags are hoping that Kampman can help boost a pass rush that ranked dead last in the NFL in 2009, tallying a franchise-low 14 sacks.

A couple years back, the Jags spent two early draft picks on defensive ends Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves, but both players have certainly underachieved through their first two NFL seasons.

Kampman is a hand-in-the-dirt pass rusher who utilizes power and technique over speed. If the Jags allow him to operate under those terms, I see no reason why he can’t help their pass rush.

Ben Roethlisberger Accused of Sexual Assault

Jimmy Boyd — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:11:46 +0000

The first time a high profile athlete is accused of causing harm to a woman, one has a tendency to think the lady might just be after his money. But the second time that athlete’s name comes up, one starts to think he might have a problem.

Yahoo! Sports reports that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been accused of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old college student in a Georgia nightclub. This accusation comes on top of Roethlisberger already facing a lawsuit for allegedly raping a woman at a Lake Tahoe hotel and casino.

While Roethlisber has not been charged in either case, it’s clear he needs to re-think some things like where he hangs out and who he hangs out with.

Ryan Tollner, Big Ben’s agent had this to say:

“Last night, Ben and his friends met a group of women and everyone mingled together throughout the evening. We have spoken to law enforcement. Based on information currently available, an allegation was made against Ben, which appeared to be dismissed after a preliminary investigation last night. Obviously, given the prior accusation against Ben, we are skeptical of motive, but we will continue to cooperate with everyone involved.”

I’ll stand by innocent until proven guilty, but if a guy who seemed as squeaky clean as Tiger Woods is capable of such grandiose sexually immorality, Big Ben could certainly have done this.

Baltimore Ravens Trade for Anquan Boldin

Jimmy Boyd — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:56:42 +0000

Yahoo! Sports reports that the Baltimore Ravens have landed three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Anquan Boldin from the Arizona Cardinals in a trade.

Baltimore was willing to give up its third and fourth round picks in this year’s draft to get Boldin, and the Ravens also received a fifth round draft pick.

While Boldin has been plagued by the injury bug in recent seasons, he’s still only 29 years old. Boldin has broke the 1,000-yard mark for receiving yards in a season in five of his first seven seasons, including 1,024 yards on 84 grabs in 2009.

The Ravens signed him to a four-year deal worth $28 million with $10 million of that guaranteed money.

The Ravens are slowly surrounding young quarterback Joe Flacco with weapons. Running back Ray Rice has proven to be a threat as both a pass catcher and a runner. He is coming off a breakout season, but his numbers could continue to climb with Boldin on board giving defenses someone else to think about

The Ravens have been in need of a marquee receiver for some time now and it appears they’ve finally landed one.

Few would argue that the Ravens just got better.